The Colorado athletic department is mourning the loss of one of its all-time greats, as CU announced the recent passing of men’s basketball legend Burdette “Burdie” Haldorson.
Haldorson, 89, passed away Oct. 13 in Colorado Springs.
A two-time Olympic gold medal winner, Haldorson was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1977 and CU’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 as part of the organization’s second induction class. He was the first CU basketball player inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Haldorson averaged 10.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his first season with the Buffaloes in 1952-53. His senior season in 1954-55 was one for the ages, leading the Buffs to the Big Seven championship while averaging 21.0 points and 13.8 rebounds, which remains the top mark in program history. CU went 19-6 overall that season and 11-1 in the conference, losing in the national semifinals to Bill Russell and eventual national champ San Francisco. Haldorson was a first team all-conference selection and a first team All-American.
Haldorson owns the program records for rebounding average, rebounds in a game (31) and rebounds in a half (21). Buffs players have posted 10 games with at least 21 rebounds in program history, and Haldorson recorded four of them. Haldorson still ranks 10th in program history in total rebounds (711) despite playing fewer games (75) than any other player in the top 13.
Haldorson’s single-season total rebound record of 346 in 1954-55 stood until Andre Roberson topped it with 401 in 2011-12 while playing 11 more games than Haldorson. Roberson edged Haldorson’s former mark with 347 the following season, and Tyler Bey also topped it with 356 in 2018-19. Haldorson’s 1,125 points ranks 28th on the all-time scoring list, and he was the first of what is now eight CU players to record at least 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in their career.
Haldorson won Olympic gold medals in 1956 and 1960, averaging 8.6 points in 1956 while helping to lead Team USA to a perfect 8-0 mark. The U.S. won again in 1960, with Haldorson playing alongside future pro basketball legends like Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas, Jerry West and Walt Bellamy. That group was inducted, as a team, into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Haldorson remained a staple in Colorado, settling in Colorado Springs to run his own gas and oil distribution business. In 2017, the CU Boulder chapter of Sigma Nu, Haldorson’s fraternity, .
“Burdie holds a very special place in our history, a tremendous athlete, a great alum and just a wonderful man,” CU athletic director Rick George said in a release. “He was always very supportive of all our programs, not just the men’s basketball team. It was always a pleasure to visit with him, be it here on campus or at the numerous functions we held in Colorado Springs.”
Added men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle: “The University of Colorado and our basketball program has lost a great one in Burdie Haldorson. Burdie is truly one of the great Buffaloes of all time, not just as a player, but more importantly as a human being.”
